"Apple confirmed the apps' removal to TechCrunch, saying it removed the Tea Dating Advice and TeaOnHer apps from the App Store as they failed to meet Apple's requirements around content moderation and user privacy. The company also said it saw an excessive number of user complaints and negative reviews, which included complaints of minors' personal information being posted in these apps. The company said it communicated the issues to the developers of the apps, but they were not addressed."
"Specifically, Apple cited violations of its App Review Guidelines 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6. Rule 1.2 says apps with user-generated content should offer reporting and blocking features, and should remove objectionable content. Rule 5.1.2 says apps can't use or share someone's personal information without permission, and 5.6 says excessive customer reports and negative reviews violate Apple's Developer Code of Conduct."
"Tea, which had quietly existed since 2023 before picking up steam in 2025, was pitched as a dating safety tool for women, somewhat similar to the " Are We Dating the Same Guy?" Facebook Groups. The app encouraged women to spill details about men, particularly those on dating apps. This included their personal information, Yelp-style reviews, and whether they'd dub them a "green flag" or "red flag.""
App removal was first spotted by an app store intelligence provider; the apps remain live on Google Play. Apple removed Tea Dating Advice and TeaOnHer for failing to meet requirements around content moderation and user privacy and for attracting an excessive number of user complaints and negative reviews, including reports of minors' personal information being posted. Apple communicated the issues to the app developers but received no fixes. Apple cited violations of App Review Guidelines 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6. Tea had been framed as a women-focused dating-safety tool that encouraged sharing detailed personal information and Yelp-style reviews of men.
Read at TechCrunch
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